Improved sensitivity to charged Higgs searches in top quark decays t→bH+→b(τ+ντ) at the LHC using τ polarisation and multivariate techniques

We present an analysis with improved sensitivity to the light charged Higgs (m_H⁺ < m_t-m_bm_{H^{+}} < m_{t}-m_{b}) searches in the top quark decays t→bH ⁺→b(τ ⁺ ν _τ )+c.c. in the t[`(t)]t\bar{t} and single t/[`(t)]t/\bar{t} production processes at the LHC. In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), one anticipates the branching ratio B (H⁺ ?t⁺n_t) @ 1{\mathcal{B}} (H^{+} \to\tau^{+}\nu_{\tau})\simeq1 over almost the entire allowed tanb\tan\beta range. Noting that the τ ⁺ arising from the decay H ⁺→τ ⁺ ν _τ are predominantly right-polarized, as opposed to the τ ⁺ from the dominant background W ⁺→τ ⁺ ν _τ , which are left-polarized, a number of H ⁺/W ⁺→τ ⁺ ν _τ discriminators have been proposed and studied in the literature. We consider hadronic decays of the τ ^±, concentrating on the dominant one-prong decay channel τ ^±→ρ ^± ν _τ . The energy and p _T of the charged prongs normalised to the corresponding quantities of the ρ ^± are convenient variables which serve as τ ^± polariser. We use the distributions in these variables and several other kinematic quantities to train a boosted decision tree (BDT). Using the BDT classifier, and a variant of it called BDTD, which makes use of decorrelated variables, we have calculated the BDT(D)-response functions to estimate the signal efficiency vs. the rejection of the background. We argue that this chain of analysis has a high sensitivity to light charged Higgs searches up to a mass of 150 GeV in the decays t→bH ⁺ (and charge conjugate) at the LHC. For the case of single top production, we also study the transverse mass of the system determined using Lagrange multipliers.     

Inspection of a magneto-optical trap via electromagnetically induced absorption

Electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) was observed for the first time on a sample of ⁸⁵Rb in a magneto-optical trap using low intensity cw copropagating pump and probe optical fields. Narrow resonances revealing the dependence of the ground-state Zeeman sublevels energy structure on the quadrupolar magnetic field and the trapping optical field intensity at different trap positions, were observed. Coherence resonances as narrow as 30 kHz were obtained under low trapping field intensities. The use of EIA spectroscopy for the magnetic field mapping of cold atomic samples is illustrated.     

A Physicochemical Study of the Effects of Acidity on the Distribution and Antioxidant Efficiency of Trolox in Olive Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions

The efficiency of antioxidants to inhibit the oxidation of lipid‐based emulsions depends on several factors including their nature and their concentration at the reaction site. Here, we have analyzed the effects of acidity and of surfactant concentration on the distribution and efficiency of the vitamin E analog Trolox (TR) in stripped olive oil‐in‐water emulsions stabilized with Tween 20. The distribution was assessed in the intact emulsions by employing a kinetic method that exploits the reaction between the hydrophobic 4‐hexadecylbenzenediazonium ions and TR. Kinetic results are interpreted on the grounds of the pseudophase model. The effects of TR on the oxidative stability of the emulsion were determined at different pH values by monitoring the formation of conjugated dienes over time. The results show that the efficiency of TR increases upon increasing pH even though its concentration in the interfacial region decreases.     

Hadron production from photon-photon interactions in the CM energy range from 1 to 5 GeV

We present the first data on photon-photon annihilation into hadrons for CM energies > 1 GeV obtained with the detector PLUTO at the e⁺e^? storage ring PETRA. Cross sections are extracted using an inelastic eγ scattering formalism. The results are compared to expectations from Regge-like models.     

Chiral separation of gamma-butyrolactone derivatives by gas chromatography on 2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-beta-cyclodextrin

The chiral GC separation of 2-alkyl-2-keto-gamma-butyrolactone derivatives and their alcohol analogs using 2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DIMETBCD) as chiral selector was discussed. The results, supported by the ketone preliminary molecular modelling calculations, suggest that the chiral recognition for DIMETBCD depends more on the geometry than on the polarity of the alkyl substituents on the butyrolactones. Hydrogen bonds and alkyl group steric effects should be an important function of the alcohol chiral recognition for DIMETBCD. Comparison of the retention times of the alcohol derivatives, in achiral and chiral stationary phases, suggests a specific structural effect for the cyclodextrin selctor.     

Phenolic potential of Tannat, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot grapes and their correspondence with wine composition

The phenolic potential of Tannat, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot grapes was evaluated in 2001 and 2002 and its correspondence with the colour and composition of the respective wines was established. Three vineyards of each variety, situated in the south of Uruguay were considered. Two samples of each vineyard were taken at the moment of the harvest. Phenolic richness, extractable anthocyanins contents and total potential in anthocyanins of the grapes were estimated. Two fermentations on skins were carried out for each vineyard using 50 kg of grape in each one. The anthocyanic and total polyphenols contents of the musts were analysed every 24 h, and skins extractions were carried out in parallel in the laboratory. The duration of the maceration for each variety was decided in function of the analytical results in the grapes, musts and skins extractions. Wines were analysed 2 months after the alcoholic fermentation, determining its phenolic composition and colour. Tannat grapes presented anthocyanic and total polyphenols contents significantly higher in both years. Therefore, wines from this variety presented colour intensity and phenolic contents statistically higher than Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot. The correlations between the phenolic contents of the grapes, skins, musts and wines were very significant. Colour intensity and phenolic contents of the wines were highly correlated with the total polyphenols of the grapes and with anthocyanins of the grapes, skins, musts and wines. The estimate of the phenolic potential of the grapes and the extractability of the pigments allows to manage more adequately the fermentation on skins and is an interesting tool to predict the colour and the composition of the wines.     

Synthesis of pyrazole derivatives as potential bioisosteres of thromboxane-synthetase inhibitors

A series of ω-carboalkenyl pyrazole derivatives have been synthesized as potential thromboxane-synthetase inhibitors considering the close bioisosteric relationship between the pyrazole ring and other heteroaromatic carboalkenyl compounds exhibiting inhibitory activity. (E)-7-(1-Phenylpyrazol-4-yl)hept-2-enoic acid (4b) were prepared in 28% overall yield from its minor bis-homologue, (E)-5-(1-phenylpyrazol-4-yl)pent-2-enoic acid (4a) , obtained from 4-formyl-1-phenylpyrazole (6) in 17% overall yield. Compounds 4a, 4b, 7, 8 and 13 were screened for their ability to inhibit the in vitro rabbit blood platelet aggregation induced by collagen using the Born test. Among the active compounds 4a exhibited an important inhibition at 1 μM concentration.